2021 All-MLB First Team

 The All-MLB Team is now in its third year of being a “legitimate” award that players should be awarded after the marathon of 162.

The All-MLB Team to me is where WAR was in year three of being an official stat. The team is there but nobody really pays attention to it. Except me. As a HUGE baseball nerd, I think the All-MLB Team should be taken as seriously as the All-NBA or All-Pro Teams in the NBA and NFL. These are the best of the best players in a given year. That matters. If you don’t think so, rethink having any awards at all. With that said, here is my All-MLB Team for the 2021 season:

(One tiny footnote, this team is according to who I think deserves to be awarded not selected from the finalist on MLB.com)

1st Team

Catcher: Salvador Perez

Perez’ season is the best offensive season by a catcher in the history of the league. Don’t believe me? He broke Carlton Fisk’s home run record by a catcher in a single season and has played all but one game! He led the league in home runs and RBI’s. Salvador Perez is also 31 years old.  Perez has been the heart and soul of Royals since he’s been in Kansas City, but he is finally realizing the talent he started to showcase for two great seasons in 2014 and 2015. Perez had his best WAR season of his career (5.3), he had his second-best batting average of his career (.273) and had his best OPS+ season (126). Did I mention he played 161 games as a catcher! Yes, he did play 40 games as the DH for Kansas City. The KC backstop will get his 4th silver slugger, he will finish top 10 in MVP, and he shows up for the older players in the game while being one of the nine best this season.

1st Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Any other year Guerrero Jr. would win the MVP running away. Shohei Otani owes Vladdy Daddy Jr. a nice steak dinner. Guerrero Jr. took the superstar jump that people thought he would take—and needs to take if he wants to be in the conversation for best player in baseball. Guerrero Jr. had a season hard to believe from a 10-year vet nevertheless a third-year player. He hit over .300, he had 48 homers (tied with Perez), and had over 100 RBI’s (111 to be exact), and he like Perez played all but one game. The Toronto first baseman led the league in the following categories: runs scored (123), home runs, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, OPS+, and total bases. Guerrero Jr. is two years younger than I am, and he’s doing this type of damage to Major League Baseball. He will finish runner-up in the MVP voting and in a way, that’s a crime, but make no mistake about it; Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is here to stay for the next 10-15 years and will continue to do this type of damage. I cannot not wait to watch him do that damage and vote for him in future MVP races.

2nd Base: Marcus Semien

One of the biggest clichés in all of sports is: bet on yourself. That is exactly what Semien did this season, and he is going to be rewarded handsomely for it. Whether he will be playing second base or shortstop full time in 2022, that’ll be decided on where Semien ends up in free agency. He is a plus defender at either position. In the previous full season Semien played 162 games, hit over 30 home runs (33), and finished third in the MVP voting. In 2021, he played 162 games, hit over 40 homers (45), and will finish top-8 in MVP voting. Five out of nine years Marcus Semien has showed up to work more than he has sat out. He has played more than 155 games in those five seasons. In the past three years he has only missed seven games! That’s important. Semien has shown that he is not a fluke. He is the real deal. He was the best second baseman in the league this year and two years ago he was the best shortstop in the league. The free agent middle infielder just played his age 30 season. Whatever deal is impending, it will likely be a short deal, but the day to day will be great.   

Shortstop: Brandon Crawford

Party like it’s 2012 (someone dial Nick Paradies)! Brandon Crawford is not so quietly having his best season of his career leading the best team in the National League. Crawford had career highs as a 34-year-old in: runs scored (79), homers (24), RBI’s (90), batting average (.298). on-base, slugging, OPS (obviously), OPS+, total bases, and WAR.

3rd Base: Jose Ramirez

Cleveland has been a forgotten team this year because their rebuild has taken the former AL Central powerhouse into the cellar for the foreseeable future. Ramirez has been the loan bright spot on a team that finished under .500 and well out of the playoff picture.

36 homers, 103 RBI’s, are elite numbers, and partner that with 138 wRC+, 141 OPS+, and a 6.4 WAR—Ramirez stays in the elite company he has set out for himself so far in his career. With the uncertainty that comes with the 2022 season, Ramirez could be on the move in the near future to continue Cleveland’s rebuild.

Casual baseball fans might not know exactly how good he is. At bat for at bat there are not nine better guys on a yearly basis since the start of 2017. This year is no different. He tied his second highest games played (152), scored the most runs in a single season of his career (111), and is still getting underpaid by $20 Million plus. Oh and by the way he almost had his second 30/30 season in three years. Someone save Jose Ramirez from Cleveland because he is an elite player.

Left Field: Tyler O’Neil  

One of the biggest reasons why the St. Louis Cardinals are playing in the playoffs is because of what Tyler O’Neil did during the Cardinals 17-game winning streak that help them qualify for a World Championship.

O’Neil is a part a historic defensive team where five different Cardinals won gold gloves including Tyler O’Neil. According to FanGraphs, the St. Louis left fielder had a DRS of 12. In 2021 Tyler O’Neil showcased himself as one of the most complete players in the game. He had a 144 wRC+, 34 home runs, 80 RBI’s, and an OPS+ of 150—while also being a plus base runner. O’Neil’s name won’t pop off the screen at you but he is definitely a top nine player in the game and will be for years to come.

Center Field: Cedric Mullins

Cedric Mullins should get some MVP votes. Baltimore had the worst record in baseball, but Mullins is the north star for what the future in Baltimore should look like. Mullins had an old school season. Mullins batted .290 with 30 homers, 59 RBI’s, and 30 stolen bases. Yes, you read that right. Mullins had a 30/30 season. The last two players to have a 30/30 season are Christian Yelich and Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2019. In the American League, the last two guys to do it was Mookie Betts and Jose Ramirez in 2018. These type of seasons are becoming less likely and special that much more. Mullins is an extremely unique player. Watching Mullins throughout the season he single handily beat the Yankees on multiple occasions. Mullins had an elite season and even though his team was utterly dreadful, he is a great player and what he did in 2021 shouldn’t be discounted because the rest of the team around him wasn’t Major League caliber.

Right Field: Juan Soto  

Juan Soto is this years’ Mike Trout. He is the best player on his team and hasn’t been in the limelight for 99% of the season, and he is on a team that is absolutely terrible. Unless you’re paying attention or live in the D.C. area you would have no idea that Soto is playing as incredible as he is.  

Juan Soto has my vote for the National League MVP.

Soto had a Bonds-esc season from an on-base standpoint. Soto led the game in walks, intentional walks, and OBP. He is 5th in baseball in WAR of all players in the game. He also played in 151 games and was the only player this century (not named Barry Bonds) to get the Bonds treatment. Soto is nowhere near the level of Barry Bonds (on steroids or off), but he is the only guy on his team and almost hit 30 homers and drove in 100 runs. Soto did all of this and hit for a .313 average. Soto had two choices to chase or take his walks and he walked all summer long.

Baseball fans will discount this season just like they have with Trout because he is one of the game’s greatest players on one of the league’s worst teams. It’s not his fault and the All-MLB team helps guys like O’Neil and Mullins, but it further showcases guys like Juan Soto. Don’t take him seriously if you want but he is MVP-caliber and should be celebrated as such.

DH: Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani has my MVP vote if I had a vote. The Babe Ruth comparisons are being used at nauseum, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t correct. Ohtani is third in the Majors in wCR+ and in OPS while also having a 162 OPS+ (which is 5th in the game).

I think it would be cheating to put Ohtani twice on this list as a hitter and pitcher, and his hitting numbers are incredible because they are deserving of an MVP award, but he also has 120 strike outs in 100 innings, while having a 2.79 ERA (which is better than Gerrit Cole’s 2.92) and having a 127 ERA+. So, again he is a WAY above average hitter, and a slightly above average pitcher at the SAME TIME. The caps are needed because Ohtani is an absolute unicorn. He deserves the MVP Award and to be one of the few locks on the All-MLB Team this year.

Starters: No Particular Order

1. Corbin Burnes

Burnes’ season should be the new definition for dominant. Burnes led baseball in ERA (2.43), ERA+ (176), FIP (1.63), strike outs per nine (12.61), and homers per nine (0.3). Because of injury Burnes only had 28 starts instead of 30+ but his injury doesn’t hinder him in my eyes from being award worthy. Burnes was clearly the best pitcher in all of baseball not just the Senior Circuit. He had a 176 ERA+ that’s shades of 2000’s Pedro, stop it, Burnes is the National League Cy Young.

2. Robbie Ray

Robbie Ray put himself on the map in 2021. He should now be a household name. However, he also needs to back it up next season. Ray played himself into a big contract and into top three Cy Young voting in the American League. Ray was the best pitcher on one of the best teams record wise in baseball. A slow start, and three different home fields was the ultimate reason why Toronto didn’t make the playoffs but Robbie Ray pitched his ass off. Ray almost eclipsed 200 innings pitched and led baseball in strike outs (248). He was the ERA leader in the American League. He was top five in ERA+ (154) and led all AL pitchers. Even if Ray doesn’t follow up a career year in 2021, what he did this year was elite, and he was one of the best pitchers in the game.  

3. Zach Wheeler

If I was a Mets fan—not signing Wheeler would be on the short list of recent things that would keep me up at night. News flash, he’s worth the money. Wheeler did everything he personally could to do his best C.C. Sabathia 2008 Milwaukee Brewer impersonation. Wheeler led the National League in innings pitched (213.1), strike outs (247), complete games (3), and shutouts (2). His win-loss record (14-10) was inflated due to the bullpen behind him and the overwhelming underperformance of majority of Philadelphia lineup. If Wheeler was the ace on the Dodgers or Brewers he could have been the league leader in wins (even if the win doesn’t mean as much as it used to). Wheeler took the ball every 5th day and pitched at a Cy Young level. In my eyes he will finish second because of how poor his team pitched around him. I understand that this mindset is an archaic viewpoint, but Wheeler didn’t pitch like his former teammate Jacob deGrom in 2021. If he did, he would be my 2021 National League Cy Young. But he didn’t. He just pitched extremely well for a team that didn’t have his back majority of the time.   

4.  Gerrit Cole

He’s the AL Cy Young. You can take all your Spider Tack jokes and shove it. Cole pitched the Yankees into the postseason. Even with the adjustment period after the game tried to control substances in baseball (for the millionth time) Cole still pitched at an elite level. Cole led the American League in wins (16) and complete games (2), while finishing top five in strike outs (243), FIP (2.92). He still had an incredible season. Due to Cole being the face of the “illegal substance” phase of baseball he will not be given the credit he deserves for how good he was this year. Gerrit Cole is a warrior and proved it again in 2021.   

5. Max Scherzer  

Speaking of warriors, Max Scherzer was a warrior for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Like Soto, Scherzer’s first half was mostly unnoticed. His second half was right in the middle of the L.A. bright lights. The 106-win Dodgers lucked out that Scherzer picked them over all other contenders and that he pitched like he did when he led the 2019 Washington Nationals to a world title. Scherzer will finish third in the National Cy Young for the 5th time in six years. His 2021 won’t be bolded out on his baseballreference.com page like you are accustomed to seeing but he showed up every, single, time he was needed to show up. He dominated when he was called upon to keep L.A. in the tightest playoff race of the season. One number, that I know is arbitrary, is Scherzer’s LOB% on FanGraphs being 84.3%. Scherzer was the definition of an ace for L.A. when they desperately needed an ace. For that he has the final spot on the First Team.

Relievers:

1. Liam Hendriks

Liam Hendriks is one of the best closers in baseball. He has been for the past three years. Hendriks signed the biggest free agent contract for a relief pitcher last offseason and this season he backed up the money Chicago paid him. Hendriks led the AL in saves (38). He had 113 strike outs over 71 innings pitched with just seven walks. Reread that line, I’ll wait. Alright, now that is out of the way; Hendriks also had a 2.6 WAR and was one of the reasons why the White Sox coasted for two plus months in the AL Central.   

2. Josh Hader

Hader seems like he’s a forgotten player not because he’s fallen off just because his team plays in a market that doesn’t have a ton of national games. Hader’s 2021 season is video game numbers. He pitched 58.2 and stroke out 102 batters. Hader recorded a 1.23 ERA leaving 91.9% of batters on base and had an expected ERA of 2.13 (which is still elite). Hader allowed 58 all season and only three batters took him deep. Hader was tied for 4th with 34 saves in all of baseball and only blew ONE save. Hader in a game that is mostly failure was damn near perfect for an entire season. Hader is the most dominant reliver in baseball. He will gladly be my closer to finish out the All-MLB Team.